How to identify scams like the fake "Monero-Chan Airdrop"

What is the fake "Monero-Chan Airdrop"?

We have checked monero-chan[.]finance and found that it is a scam website posing as the original Monero-Chan page (monero-chan.org). The purpose of the fake site is to steal cryptocurrency from victims through a malicious tool. It should be avoided and closed if it is opened to prevent potential risks.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not review crypto projects, please do your own research when investing money.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that since the start of 2021, more than 46,000 people have reported losing over $1 billion in crypto to scams – that's about one out of every four dollars reported lost, more than any other payment method.

Fake "Monero-Chan Airdrop" in detail

Monero-Chan (monero-chan.org) is a privacy-technology project that develops tools for private computation. The project also maintains a network explorer that displays proofs and operational activity. Its token is called MONEROCHAN. The fake website monero-chan[.]finance claims that visitors can claim rewards (tokens) through an airdrop.

Scammers aim to trick visitors into believing that they can participate in the airdrop by connecting their wallets. However, once a wallet is connected, a cryptocurrency drainer activates. This malicious tool is designed to send cryptocurrency from the victim's wallet to the scammers'.

Moreover, if victims have their wallets drained, they rarely can recover lost cryptocurrency because these transactions are irreversible. Generally, falling for scams like this one can result in permanent loss of cryptocurrency. Therefore, it is highly advisable to ensure that crypto platforms are legitimate before connecting wallets, sending cryptocurrency, or taking other steps.

Conclusion

Monero-Chan (monero-chan.org) is a privacy-technology project, but monero-chan[.]finance is a fake website pretending to offer an airdrop. It is used to trick users into connecting their wallets, after which a cryptocurrency drainer can steal their funds. Because these transactions are irreversible, victims almost never recover their cryptocurrency.

Examples of similar scams are the fake "United States Crypto Reserve ($USCR) Airdrop", "Ripple (XRP) Airdrop", and "ZKsync ($ZK) Airdrop".

How did I open a scam website?

It is common for crypto scams to be promoted using compromised WordPress websites and fake (or stolen) accounts on Facebook, Twitter/X. Scams can also be encountered after clicking deceptive notifications from unreliable pages and advertisements (or other content) on dubious sites.

Additionally, users can be deceived into visiting fraudulent sites through malicious emails, ads displayed by adware, and pages that utilize rogue advertising networks (e.g., sites offering illegal streaming services, adult content, or torrent sites).

How to avoid visiting scam pages?

Be cautious of unsolicited or unrelated emails and messages, particularly those urging you to open attachments or follow links. If a suspicious webpage attempts to display notifications, decline the request and close the page. Download software from trusted locations, such as official app stores or the developer's legitimate website.

Do not click on pop-ups, links, ads, or other content found on shady websites. Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and perform routine scans using reputable antivirus software. If your computer is already infected with unwanted apps, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

The appearance of "Monero-Chan Airdrop" scam (GIF):

The original monero-chan.org website:

Instant automatic malware removal:

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Quick menu:

• What is Fake Monero-Chan giveaway?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a fake crypto airdrop?

Many fraudulent airdrops entice potential victims with token giveaways, then manipulate them into steps that benefit scammers.

What is the purpose of a crypto giveaway?

Usually, the ultimate goal is to steal cryptocurrency. Fraudsters aim to trick users into transferring cryptocurrency, providing access to their wallets, launching malicious tools designed to drain wallets, or taking other actions.

Why do I encounter scams?

Users may also land on scam sites through deceptive emails, fake notifications from suspicious sites, or dubious ad networks on platforms offering torrents, illegal streaming, or other shady content. Scammers also promote their schemes using misleading ads or other content on unsafe websites, hacked pages, and fake or compromised social media accounts.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from scams?

Yes, Combo Cleaner detects misleading or dangerous online material and prevents users from opening those websites.